Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-05-25
AT THE BANQUET BOARD.
Happy Closing of the Thirteenth
Infantry Reunion.
The spread at Armery HaliIi.ast Even
ing---The Toasts and Responses
Mayor Blanding's Address Of We'll
c0me---The Feast.

A happy ending of the twenty sixth
anniversary reunion was the banquet at
Armory hall last evening. The veterans
were conducted from the Harper house To
to the Armory building by Bleuer's band
at 8 o'clock, and were seated about the
festa board, two hundred strong, being
joined by the Sons of Veterans and &
A. R. comrades outside of the society
Maj ]. NJ. Beardsley. president of the
society. presided, introducing Mayor V
NJ Blanding as the first speaker, who
delivered the address of welcome
The mayor expressed his pleasure al
being permitted TO welcome the veterans
together again. He recalled the dark days
when the pillars OF the government were
shaken. and these meetings he said
brought back the memories of those
trying times rs wildly as ever. He
spoke impresslvely of the trying times
when there was need for the volunteer.
when he was called for and how prompt
ly was his response. In all the history
of the war, Mayor Blanding said there
was much that hsd not been written,
yet it was indelbly inscribed
upon the hearts of tine American
people, and these reunions recalled that
unsritten history The people of this
locality felt particularly interest
ed in. the Thirteenth infantry
| The hen who composed 1t were
immediate friends and neighbors and com
paninns He then went on to sketch the
Thirteenth infantry's war service, paying
fine tribute TO The soldier element of It's
composition and good work at the front.
Their own valiant deeds spoke more elo
quently than words. He alluded to the
heroes who had been left upon the south-
ern soil and of the tender thoughts with
which their memory recalled; the
high regard and esteem with which the
Thirteenth would ever be held and thu
pride which accompanied every word Of
welcome that was extended to the sur,
viving comrades. II closing Mayor
Banding again welcomed the veterans.
Music BY the band followed and ther
came what was by no means an unim'
portant part of the programme. Half al
hour was spent in supplying the inner
man with pork and beans, hard tack and
coffee, roast beef, potato salad. roast
chicken and veal, mutton, pickles fruit
cake, ice cream and strawberries anC
cigars 1t was one of Mr.. John Aster',
spreads, and it did him ample jus
lice. Everything was prepared in
good taste and there was abundance
of it, The toasts followed, the first be
ing The Thirteenth Illinois Voluntee
Infantry with response by Col H 7
Noble. The band played the Star Span
gled Banner" and Hon. II D Demen
responded To the toast "Our Country ant
Flag The toast Our Dead" wa
drank in silence, all standing. and ther
Capt. Geo. P. Brown. of Sterling, re
sponded to the toast 1.-The Armv Tough
Without Guns" Miss Lottie Hitler re
| sit.l s,Sbar;lnS,is nj
Dripps of the Sons Of Veterans, CAV,
''Schueider's Whisky" The last tive
toasis were Thoughts of the Hour" an,
The hank and File, 9Th responses l.,
Frank Lee and Hon. John D. Crabiree
respectively.
Then followed letters from absent III III
beers and notice was read of the death o
Thomas NJ. Blair of company d, shortl,
after the last reunion. MAJ BeardsIe,
made few lmpromptu remarks speakn!
of the JOY it did him to meet the Ole
comrades again, and expressed the hop
that they would continue as long MS tw,
OF the veterans were left to meet abov,
the soil.
A vote of thanks was rendered Boards
ley camp. Sons of Veterans, and Ladies
Aid Society for courteous treatment o
the visitors. The Ladies Aid Societ,
waited upon the tables and Bleuer's ban,
]
music.
4 Musical Treat.